Villagers from Kauma Village in Traditional Authority Santhe’s area in Kasungu are this month of October 2026 commemorating the second anniversary of the death of local hero, Mathews Tisatayane Sapemba.
Sapemba, a visionary man and renowned social entrepreneur, died on 12 October 2024 after a vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a road accident at Nakuwawa along the Santhe-Lilongwe road.
Two years after his passing, villagers say his achievements continue to make a positive impact in their daily lives.
The late Sapemba was a staunch nationalist who launched several developmental projects in Kasungu, including Umodzi Poultry Farm and a solar plant which provides clean energy to local people.
Before his tragic passing, he was building one of the country’s largest quail kraals and fish ponds in the district.
One of the beneficiaries, Tiyamike Kalinda, a villager from Kauma, says she is still benefiting from Sapemba’s innovations.
“I am now raising chickens using the bird insect and gardening integrated system that Mr. Sapemba introduced and through this, I am able to feed my family and pay school fees for my child,” said Kalinda.
In some circles, Sapemba was also an active member of “Amuna Group”, a group of like-minded Malawians based in the United States of America that was formed to help in preserving and promoting Malawian culture.
In an interview, Felix Lowole, a best friend of the late Sapemba and former treasurer of Amuna Group, described his passing as a huge loss for Malawi.
“We are talking of a person who tried his best to change poultry farming by introducing innovations such as the use of bird insect and gardening integrated system, and that is a no mean achievement,” said Lowole.
In his eulogy in 2024, Lowole described him as a true patriot who wanted to see Malawi develop economically.
A journalist who extensively covered the late Sapemba’s exploits, Lydia Banda, also described him as someone who loved being around women and young people who were ready to be uplifted economically.
“Though he lived in California, United States for a long time, his love and hope for Malawi was intact, which I believe is the reason why he came back to Malawi around 2003 to start various investments including the poultry farm,” said Banda.
Mathews Tisatayane Sapemba is survived by a wife and four children.
